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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



LIFE 



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By 
E DWIN O. Ropp. 



Bloomington, Illinois, 
I9OI. 



THE LIBRABV OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two CuPlfeS RECEIVE3 

AUG. 28 1901 


, COPYRHHT ENTRY 

CLASS ^ y&Si. No». 
COPY 3. 



7S3S-3 



Copyright, 1900. 



Press of 

Pantagraph Ptg. & Sta. Co. 

Bloomington^ III. 



A souvenir of bygone days 
Recalls to mind their joy lit rays. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Home ------ 7 

Father ----- 8 

Mother . - - - - 9 

Sister ----- 10 

Grandparents - - - - 10 

Friendship - - - - - 12 

Constancy - - - - - 13 

Patriotism ----- 13 

Poetry - - - - - 14 

The Orator ----- 15 

Art - - - . - - - 15 

Nature - - - - - 17 

The Lone Bunch - - - - 18 

The Silver Leaped Trek - - - 19 

Sugar Creek - - - - 22 

The Evergreen City - - - 23 

A Problem ----- 27 

Life ------ 27 

Prayer ... - - 30 

Elsie ------ 31 

Immortality - - - - 32 



HOME, 



There is a place called home around 
which twines the trailing vine of affec- 
tion. 

There is such a thing as the family, 
wherein father, mother, sister and brother 
cherish the blossoming buds of love. 

And then there is the hearthstone, on 
which are kindled the sacred fires of im- 
mortal friendship. 

The holy home is crowned with stars, 
At night. Throughout the day 

A halo hovers o'er it — bars 
Of light, like buds in May. 



LIFE 



FATHER. 

A shepherd watches, guards and guides 

his flock 
Across the cHff and past projecting 

rock. 
They know his voice whose hand sup- 

phes their needs, 
And trusting, follow where the shepherd 

leads. 

'Tis thus a father careth for the child; 

His counsel is like Wisdom's — always 
mild. 

They love each other. This sweet sim- 
ple fact, 

Sends forth the kindly word and loving 
act. 



L I F 



MOTHER. 



Divinely Nature hovers o'er her own, 
In city, meadov^, or in forest wild; 

Her gentle voice, its soft and tender tone, 
Soothes every thought and blesses 
every child. 

Serenely sits the robin o'er her brood. 
To her the bliss and peace of life 
belong. 
That ruby breast, with melody imbued. 
Breathes love, and tiny birdlets learn 
the song. 

A mother thus instructs each little one; 

The eager pupils listen well to learn ; 

Her love shines o'er them like the golden 

sun; 

And bonny hearts lisp thanks in glad 

return. 



10 LIFE 



SISTER. 



In Beauty's field wild roses bloom; 
They bloom to bless each other; 

Their blossoms yield us sweet perfume- 
So blessest thou thy brother. 

GRANDPARENTS. 



Life's streamlet which so gently grows, 

Is broadest near the sea; 
Where into Truth the river flows, 

Which sets the waters free. 

Each petal of some blooming good, 
Helps make that flower whole; 

Each page of Being understood, 
Adds glory to the soul. 



LIFE. 11 

Snow-white is clad the apple tree, 
In Spring's majestic dress; 

So Wisdom's finger crowneth thee; 
Builds buds and blessedness. 

Some angels pray in distant spheres, 
While others worship here; 

Though parted far by leagues and years. 
In Spirit friends are near. 

Your lives lure hearts to heaven's rooms, 
Like tones from Sabbath bells. 

The love that lives between us blooms, 
Like budding immortelles . 



12 LIFE 



FRIENDSHIP. 



Like stars that glitter side by side; 

Whose light is Love's endeavor; 
Like buds that blossom and abide; 

So friendship blooms — forever. 



We two are friends, and friends are true, 
While stars in heaven shine; 

Forever lives the lily's hue. 
And ever clings the vine. 



Great grandeur glows through midnight 
skies; 

Sweet fragrance flows from flowers; 
The fair and good fore'er we prize, 

Eternal Love is ours. 



LIFE 



13 



CONSTANCY, 



Thy friend is constant; as the dipper's 
true 
To the polar star, he is true to you; 
And as the strand abides beside the sea, 
Though tides may come and go, he 
stands by thee. 



PATRIOTISM. 



Methinks were a patriot an inhabitant 
of Heaven — a partaker of every bhss in 
that blessed abode — and were someone 
there to unfurl the banner of his native 
land — his heart would give an extra leap 
and taste of increased joy. 



14 LIFE 



POETRY. 



An Indian charmed by the ripple of a 
water-fall, finds in his bosom a sentiment, 
which, when expressed, is poetry. 

Poetry is the mind's jewel whose gems 
of . truth are set in the most attractive 
possible language. 

A poet can no more resist the natural 
impulse of his thought than the flower 
can resist blooming. 

A peasant pausing from toil, for a 
moment, to receive from the violet Spring- 
time's greeting — utters grateful acknowl- 
edgment — this is a poem. 

Friends meet, greet and exchange 
thoughts. Hearts blend. Happiness 
reigns. The memory of this has inspired 
the finest poems produced by man. 



LIFE. 15 



THE ORATOR. 



He speaks, and, like the touch of art, 
Portrays what nature is; 

He lifteth up each hearer's heart. 
Until it beats with his. 



ART. 



To an artist who painted for me the beautiful 
picture, "A Basket of Pansies." 



The Over-artist's steady hand 

Holds brushes soft and clean; 

He dips them in the rainbow and 

Moulds Beauty's pleasing scene. 



16 LIFE. 

On canvas — the blue canopy — 
He paints celestial cars; 

The universe — His gallery — 

Is hung vv^ith sparkling stars. 

The landscapes that we love so v^ell, 
Flow from His mind and heart; 

Fair secrets hid in flowers spell 
His master-works of Art. 

His children strive to emulate, 

Their Father's perfect worth; 

The Art they see in Heaven's state, 
They pray may be on earth. 

And thus this precious pansy bed, 
Was planted in my path; 

As o'er a morn of life is shed 
Affection's sunny bath. 



LIFE. 17 



To thee whose skilled and kindly mood, 
Lures Beauty's page on blanks; 

Let robins sing my gratitude, 
And roses tell my thanks. 



NATURE. 



How wild the scene, how sweet the 

hush, 
In overgrowth and underbrush. 



18 LIFE 



THE LONE BUNCH. 



A small tract of timber situated in the heart of 
a wide expanse of prairie; on Section One, Dry 
Grove Township, McLean County, Illinois. 



Upon this prairie flecked with groves, 
'Tis strange to think that once for miles 
There stood no tree — save one lone 

bunch, 
Wherein there prowled gaunt wolves and 

laired 
The cunning fox. 'Tis said the deer 
At each approaching storm, sought here 
A shelter in the tangled brush; 
And oft, after a morning's march, 
The red man paused^ — welcoming shade. 



LIFE. 19 



THE SILVER LEAFED TREE. 



An old landmark on the White Oak road, a 
thoroughfare from Bloomington to what was for- 
merly Oak Grove. 

For many years thy tall familiar form 

Has stood within the meeting of the 
ways ; 
Thy branches oft have struggled with the 
storm; 
Upon thy brow first fall the morning 
rays. 

Deep sank the lightning bolt into thy 
breast; 
Unmoved ye braved the fierce and 
raging blast; 
Like heroes who are tried by every test, 
Ye stood, a victor — scarred — the 
tempest past. 



20 LIFE. 

Hadst thou a tongue, and lips, thou 
mightest sing 
Quaint history of this surrounding 
land; 
And yet perchance thy lowly murmuring 
Is language that we do not under- 
stand. 

How came ye here to bless the passer-by, 
With shade and shelter for himself 
and steed? 

Perhaps an age ago with kindly eye, 

Some hand beneficent laid here aseed ; 

Which grew until a sapling kissed the sky; 
While yet the deer at freedom ranged 
the plain; 
Hast heard the wolf's shrill bark, the 
eagle's cry? 
And watched the planter break the 
prairie main? 



LIFE. 21 

Since then a thousand homes were 
founded here; 
Schools came to teach the universal 
plan; 
A city reared its walls and towers near, 
While steeples told how worship 
walks with man. 

The railroad whistle greeteth thee each 
day; 
Wild elements are linked to useful 
ends; 
Swift telegrams speed past thee on their 
way, 
With messages from dear though 
distant friends. 

To stand hke thee, as patient, firm and 
strong; 
To bless as thou, man, beast and 
fowl of air; 



22 LIFE. 

To sing as softly — and as sweet a 
song, 
This is the poet's wish, the sage's 
prayer. 



SUGAR CREEK. 



Fair Beauty hath directed us behold thy 

quiet flow; 
We've seen the stars reflected in thy 

bosom down below. 



LIFE. 23 



THE EVERGREEN CITY. 



While stopping in or passing by, 

Thy busy streets have smiled at me; 

And now to give those smiles reply 

Thy peasant friend doth sing of 
thee. 

The peace and joy of cozy homes 

Are diamonds on thy maiden breast, 

And underneath thy modest domes 
The stranger finds an easy rest. 

Your parks bear trees firm set and 
brave, 
Whose limbs and leaves blend into 
one, 
Whose optimistic branches wave 

Glad greeting at both storm and sun. 



24 LIFE 



Thy mills supply the bread we break, 

Within thy bins our stores are laid: 

The hand that gives is asked to take, 
And gleans the benefits of trade. 

In rock girt shops where labor speeds 
To mighty ends her busy band, 

Are reared the mammoth iron steeds 
That bound across the prairie land. 

Deep delve thy miners underground, 

Through sand and gravel, slate and 
clay, 
To where thick seams of coal are found, 
Which warm our hearths each wintry 
day. 

With engine pulse beats in his wrist, 
Thy tower stands erect and tall; 

A silent, grave philanthropist, 

Providing drink for one and all. 



LIFE. 25 

Like twinkling stars, bright beacon lights 
Illuminate thy thoroughfare, 

And those of us who travel nights 

Are cheered to see them blazing 
there. 

Your shelves afford the searching mind 
A field of volumes grand and vast, 

Where musing ones may seek and find 
What men have thought in ages past. 

Your schools instruct the learning child, 
To walk with clear, observing eye; 

To love the true, revere the mild. 

And weigh the worth of earth and sky. 

From temples where the heart is blest. 
Thy Sabbath chimes are heard to 
ring; 

Their message is a hymn of rest. 
An echo of what angels sing. 



26 LIFE. 

Your daughters crowned with beauty's 
wreath, 
Have given to an eager throng 
The pure inspired air they breathe 

Through prayer and picture, deed 
and song. 

Thy loyal sons have served the state, 

Within the nation's halls have stood 

To utter truth; these men are great; 
They labor for the public good. 

The wild rose bud, the free bird's song. 
That sweeten life where bunnies run; 

Are ever loved, as sweetly long, 

We love thee, ''Blessed Blooming- 
ton." 



LIFE. 27 



A PROBLEM. 



Given Bloomington what is Heaven? 

First subtract all evil, every burden from 
every bosom, every unworthy thought 
from every heart. Add to that remainder 
every good in America — every joy in the 
world. Multiply that sum by infinity and 
that product by eternity. The result is 
Heaven. 



LIFE 



Forever glows life's gentle lay; 

By loving mother blest; 
A babe, beholding dawn and day, 

Unfolds the sense of rest. 



28 LIFE. 

A father's love gives place and part 

In home divinely fair; 
Sweet greeting from a sister's heart 

Enshrines the hallowed air. 

Wild scenes that greet the glis'ning 
eye, 

Evolve Perfection's worth; 
Bright stars — the flowers of the sky; 

Sweet flowers — stars of earth. 

A teacher leads from quiet room, 

Through Wisdom's budding field; 

Where thoughts are seeds, fair words are 
bloom, 
With facts and deeds for yield. 

Then turns the heart with gratitude. 
To Him whose gentle hand 

Provideth raiment, roof and food, 
For each, of every land. 



LIFE. 29 

A friend is loved. In wreaths of light 
Are robed the brave and great, 

Who labor to achieve the right, 
And toil to serve the state. 

Page after page is turned and read; 

Age after age is scanned; 
The wealth of what the wise have said, 

And thought, and taught, and 
planned. 

Deep delves the sage. High soars the 
seer — 
A vision dawns to view; 

Each being on that sunny sphere. 
Loves all, does good, is true. 

One motive moves the willing hand; 

One purpose stirs the breast; 
To realize that vision and 

So see all beings blest. 



30 LIFE. 

Ah Life — benign, majestic word — 
Sweet joys abound in thee; 

Like scent of bud and song of bird, 
Thy blessed gift is free. 



PRAYER. 



Through meditation, sweet, serene and 
soft; 
The mind, in beauty rapt, is borne 
aloft; 
Is lifted high on inspiration's wings; 
Beholds the grandeur of celestial 
things. 



LIFE. 3X 



ELSIE. 



To a child friend in Heaven. 
The shades of even softly fall; 

Serenely ends the day; 
An earnest heart, at peace with all, 

Mid stillness bows to pray. 

On wings of Mind the message flies; 

The yearning kindled there; 
Flees far, exploring starry skies — 

It seeks diviner air; 

Where hidden in some hallowed spot, 
With other flowers nigh; 

There blooms a sweet forget-me-not; 
A vision greets the eye. 

The ivy winds around the bough; 

The vine adorns the tree; 
So round the heart are clinging now, 

Bright memories of thee. 



32 LIFE 



IMMORTALITY. 



There is a drop in the ocean, a grain 
of sand on the seashore. There is an 
earthly existence — a wee fraction of in- 
finity — a sweet, momentous fact — yet 
this cannot be all — something more is re- 
quired to complete a perfect life. 

There's a land whose buds and bowers — 
Floral rainbows fragrance give; 

Where the sages love the flowers; 
Glad to see them bloom and live. 

Friend greeteth friend. They learn to 
love. One departs. The yearning of 
him that remains is cheered by the ex- 
pectation sometime and somewhere in the 
infinite heaven to renew that friendship. 

We taste happiness. We conceive of 
joy — pure and perpetual. We wish to 



LIFE. 33 

realize this conception. We see the 
wondrous works of Nature. We ask, 
Canst Thou add yet another marvel.? 
We couple wish with possibility and say, 
Surely this may be. Deep in the human 
heart abides the conviction that beauty is 
true and that good is allied to an eternal 
Power. Immortality is both beautiful 
and good. 

In what doth present joy differ from 
future happiness? There is a mere dif- 
ference of days — perhaps of years. Genu- 
ine joy is the result of some lasting good. 
Thy present good is a part of immor- 
tality. 

A heart may hold its happy past, 

What hand can probe the future's veil? 

Be good at present, and at last 

A star will show thee where to sail. 

History states that Socrates was one 
LifC. 



34 LIFE. 

among multitudes who have hoped for 
immortaHty. 

Scripture relates that Jesus, Enoch and 
Elijah sailed safely through the mysteri- 
ous sea to dwell on other shores. 

In the cool of evening, who has not 
seen a father return from toil? Ah child, 
with light heart trippest thou to meet 
l^im. For thee there is a kiss and gift 
and open arms are thine. Is not the 
Power that gave us life as kind.^ Behold 
how a man enters the world — guarded by 
a wise father, guided by a loving mother, 
cared for by a kind sister, with countless 
benefits at hand. It is reasonable to 
think that the Author of blessings hath 
prepared as glad a welcome for man in 
the country toward which he journeys, as 
hath been accorded him in the realm 
wherein he walks. 



LIFE. 35 



What lights are blazing bright and fair 

In that celestial land? 
A sister's love — a mother's care — 

A father's guiding hand? 



Does midnight intimate the dawn? Yet 
in six hours the rosy east bursts into sun- 
rise. Does winter prophesy the spring? 
Days pass but the seed stirs not. Mo- 
tionless under the snow lays the brown 
grass. The trees stand stripped — every 
branch is bare. Not a wing braves the 
bleak blast. Ice silences the brook. Yet 
summer's wand transforms. The germ 
starts. Myriads of green blades shoot up- 
ward toward the stars. Trees fling a 
million streamers to a friendly breeze, 
while the robin's song blends with the 
babbling brook. 

Over the gray ground creeps a cater- 
pillar. What is this creature's destiny? 



-- / 



MAY n;:A 



36 LIFE 



\ 



To soar with bird and sip with bee. The 
butterfl}' is a prophet of ImmortaHty. 

Who can enumerate the hues of to- 
morrow's sky? After the shower the rain- 
bow — then the radiance of sunhght. Such 
is the past. Such is the present. What 
of the future? Let Eternity reply. 



There's a rest for man when the day is done; 

There's a grandeur hid in the starlit night; 
There's a glory born of the morning sun, 

As it floods the brow with its golden light. 



i 



